Display apparatus and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus capable of correcting an image quality change caused by long-term use is provided. The display apparatus includes: a display panel; a communicator configured to communicate with a service apparatus; and a controller configured to control the communicator to transmit operation information including a total operating time of the display apparatus and an operating temperature of the display apparatus, to the service apparatus; receive an image parameter from the service apparatus through the communicator, and based on the received image parameter data; process image data; and transmit the processed image to the display panel. The image parameter may include at least one of a brightness level, a contrast, a sharpness level, and a color density of the display panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/343,045, filed on Jun. 9, 2021 in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/732,403, filed on Jan. 2, 2020 in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,057,666 on Jul. 6, 2021, which isbased on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2019-0002201, filed on Jan. 8, 2019 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporatedby reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosure relates to a display apparatus and a control methodthereof, and more particularly, to a display apparatus capable ofcorrecting an image quality degradation caused by long-term use, and acontrol method of the display apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

A display apparatus is an output apparatus for visually displayingreceived or stored image information to a user. The display apparatus iswidely used in various settings, such as home, places of business, etc.

Some examples of display apparatuses are a monitor connected to apersonal computer (PC), a server computer or the like, a portablecomputer, a navigation terminal, a television, an Internet ProtocolTelevision (IPTV), a handy terminal (for example, a smart phone, atablet PC, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a cellular phone),various kinds of displays used to reproduce images of advertisements ormovies in industrial fields, and various kinds of audio/video systems.

The display apparatuses display images using various kinds of displaypanels. For example, the display panels may include a Light EmittingDiode (LED) panel, an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) panel, aLiquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel, etc.

The display apparatuses deteriorate in performance over time from thedate of manufacture and prolonged use by a user. For example, when adisplay apparatus is used over a long time, the intensity (e.g.,brightness) of light output from the display apparatus may be reduced.Furthermore, when a display apparatus is used over a long time, colorsof images that are displayed on the display apparatus may also change.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a displayapparatus capable of correcting an image quality deterioration caused bylong-term use.

It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a display apparatuscapable of correcting both an image deterioration caused by long-termuse and an image change caused by short-term use.

It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a display apparatuscapable of measuring a change of a displayed image and correcting thechange of the image based on the measured change of the image.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in thefollowing description and, in part, will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a display apparatusincluding a display panel; a communicator configured to communicate witha service apparatus; and a controller. The controller may be configuredto control the communicator to transmit operation information includinga total operating time of the display apparatus and an operatingtemperature of the display apparatus, to the service apparatus; receivean image parameter from the service apparatus through the communicator,and based on the received image parameter data; process image data; andtransmit the processed image to the display panel. The image parametermay include at least one of a brightness level, a contrast, a sharpnesslevel, and a color density of the display panel.

The controller may be further configured to control the communicator totransmit environment information including a geographic location of thedisplay apparatus and an illuminance outside the display apparatus, tothe service apparatus.

The display apparatus may further include a user inputter configured toacquire a user input, and the controller may be further configured tocontrol the communicator to transmit the operation information to theservice apparatus based on acquiring a user input for powering off thedisplay apparatus from the user inputter.

The display apparatus may further include a user inputter configured toacquire a user input, and the controller may be further configured to:determine whether the total operating time of the display apparatus islonger than or equal to a first predetermined time based on acquiring auser input for powering off the display apparatus from the userinputter, and based on determining that the total operating time of thedisplay apparatus is longer than or equal to the first predeterminedtime, control the communicator to transmit the operation information tothe service apparatus.

The display panel may include a liquid crystal panel and a backlightunit, and the controller may be further configured to correct a drivingcurrent to be supplied to the backlight unit when an operating timeelapses a second predetermined time after the display apparatus ispowered on.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a display systemincluding a display apparatus configured to display an image based on animage parameter, transmit operation information including a totaloperating time and an operating temperature of the display apparatus, toa service apparatus; and the service apparatus configured to, based onthe received total operating time and the operating temperature of thedisplay apparatus, output update data for updating the image parameterfor correcting degradation in image quality of the display apparatus.The image parameter may include at least one of a brightness level, acontrast, a sharpness level, and a color density of the displayapparatus.

The service apparatus may include a communication interface configuredto communicate with the display apparatus; a database including an imageparameter for correcting the degradation in image quality of the displayapparatus; and a processor configured to receive the operationinformation from the display apparatus through the communicationinterface, and transmit the image parameter for correcting thedegradation in image quality of the display apparatus, to the displayapparatus through the communication interface.

The display apparatus may include a display panel; a first communicatorconfigured to communicate with the service apparatus; and a firstcontroller configured to process image data based on the imageparameter, and transfer the processed image data to the display panel.The first controller may be further configured to control the firstcommunicator to transmit the operation information to the serviceapparatus, and process the image data based on the image parameterreceived from the service apparatus through the first communicator.

The first controller may be further configured to control the firstcommunicator to transmit environment information including a geographiclocation of the display apparatus and an illuminance outside the displayapparatus, to the service apparatus.

The display apparatus may further include a user inputter configured toacquire a user input, and the first controller may be further configuredto control the first communicator to transmit the operation informationto the service apparatus based on acquiring a user input for poweringoff the display apparatus from the user inputter.

The display apparatus may further include a user inputter configured toacquire a user input, and the first controller may be further configuredto: determine whether the total operating time of the display apparatusis longer than or equal to a first predetermined time based on acquiringa user input for powering off the display apparatus from the userinputter, and based on determining that the total operating time of thedisplay panel is longer than or equal to the first predetermined time,control the first communicator to transmit the operation information tothe service apparatus.

The display system may further include a user apparatus configured tocommunicate with the display apparatus and the service apparatus, wherethe user apparatus may be further configured to transmit, in response toacquiring a user input for correcting degradation in image quality ofthe display apparatus, the user input to the display apparatus, and thedisplay apparatus may display a predetermined image in response toreceiving the user input from the user apparatus.

The predetermined image may include a plurality of areas havingdifferent colors, brightness levels, and color densities.

The user apparatus may include a camera; a second communicatorconfigured to communicate with the display apparatus and the serviceapparatus; a second controller configured to control the camera tophotograph the display apparatus displaying the predetermined image, andcontrol the second communicator to transmit the predetermined image ofthe display apparatus to the service apparatus.

The user apparatus may further include a display, and the secondcontroller may be further configured to control the display to displaythe predetermined image of the display apparatus and a plurality ofguide lines, and control the camera to record the predetermined image ofthe display apparatus based on the predetermined image of the displayapparatus being positioned within the plurality of guide lines.

The service apparatus may include a communication interface configuredto communicate with the user apparatus; a database including an imageparameter for correcting the degradation in image quality of thepredetermined image displayed on the display apparatus; and a processorconfigured to receive the predetermined image of the display apparatusfrom the user apparatus through the communication interface, andtransmit the image parameter for correcting the degradation in imagequality of the display apparatus to the display apparatus through thecommunication interface.

The user apparatus may include a camera; a second communicatorconfigured to communicate with the display apparatus and the serviceapparatus; and a second controller configured to control the camera tophotograph the display apparatus displaying the predetermined image,collect image information from the plurality of areas included in thepredetermined image of the display apparatus, and control the secondcommunicator to transmit the image information to the service apparatus.

The image information may include information about colors, brightnesslevels, and color densities of the plurality of areas.

The service apparatus may include a communication interface configuredto communicate with the user apparatus; a database including an imageparameter for correcting the degradation in image quality of the displayapparatus based on the image information of the display apparatus; and aprocessor configured to receive the image information from the userapparatus, and transmit the image parameter for correcting thedegradation in image quality of the display apparatus to the userapparatus.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a method ofcontrolling a display apparatus, including collecting operationinformation including a total operating time of the display apparatusand an operating temperature of the display apparatus; transmitting theoperation information to a service apparatus; receiving, from theservice apparatus, an image parameter for correcting degradation ofimage quality of the display apparatus; processing image data based onthe received image parameter; and displaying an image corresponding tothe processed image data, where the image parameter may include at leastone of a brightness level, a contrast, a sharpness level, and a colordensity of the display apparatus.

According to still another embodiment, there is provided a displaysystem including a display apparatus; and a service apparatus, whereinthe display apparatus is configured to: display an image based on animage parameter, transmit, to the service apparatus, operationinformation including a total operating time and an operatingtemperature of the display apparatus, and wherein the service apparatusis configured to: based on the received total operating time and theoperating temperature of the display apparatus, generate update data forupdating the image parameter of the display apparatus and transmit theupdate data to the display apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects, features, and advantages of certainembodiments of the disclosure will become apparent from the followingdescription of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a service apparatus and a display apparatus according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a display apparatus accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows an example of a backlight unit included in a displayapparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows an example of a liquid crystal panel included in a displayapparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows degradation in brightness of a light source according tototal operating time of a display apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a reduction of an expected life of a light source withrespect to operating temperature of a display apparatus according to anembodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a change of a color gamut according to a total operatingtime of a display apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 shows degradation in brightness of a light source with respect toa continuous operation time of a display apparatus according to anembodiment;

FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a display apparatus according to anembodiment;

FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a service apparatus according to anembodiment;

FIG. 11 shows an example of an operation for correcting an image qualitychange caused by long-term use of a display apparatus according to anembodiment;

FIG. 12 shows an example screen for an image correction setting that isdisplayed by a display apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of an operation for correcting an imagequality change caused by long-term use of a display apparatus accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of operations of a service apparatus and adisplay apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 15 shows a display apparatus, a service apparatus, and a userapparatus, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 16 shows a configuration of a user apparatus according to anembodiment;

FIG. 17 shows an example of an operation for correcting an image qualitychange caused by long-term use of a display apparatus according to anembodiment;

FIG. 18 shows an example of photographing a screen of a displayapparatus by using a user apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 19 shows another example of an operation for correcting an imagequality change caused by long-term use of a display apparatus accordingto an embodiment; and

FIG. 20 shows another example of photographing a screen of a displayapparatus by using a user apparatus according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is provided to assist one of ordinaryskill in the art to understand the disclosure, but various changes,modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/orsystems described herein may be apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe art. The progression of operations described is merely an example.The sequence of operations is not limited to the sequence set forthherein and may be changed or modified as necessitated, with theexception of operations necessarily occurring in a particular order. Inaddition, respective descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

Embodiments will now be described in more detail hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as beinglimited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments areprovided so that the disclosure is more thorough and complete, and tofully convey the embodiments to those of ordinary skill in the art.

It may be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may beused herein to describe various elements, these elements should not belimited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another. As used herein, the term “and/or,” may include anyand all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected,” or “coupled,” to another element, it may be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlyconnected,” or “directly coupled,” to another element, there may not beintervening elements.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” may include plural forms, unlessthe context clearly indicates otherwise.

Throughout the disclosure, the expression “at least one of a, b or c”indicates only a, only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b andc, all of a, b, and c, or variations thereof.

Hereinafter, the operation principle and embodiments of the disclosurewill be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a service apparatus and a display apparatus according to anembodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a display apparatus 100 may be connected to aservice apparatus 200 in a wired or wireless manner through a networkNT.

The display apparatus 100 may process an image signal received fromoutside to display an image corresponding to the image signal.Hereinafter, the display apparatus 100 is assumed to be a television(TV). However, the display apparatus 100 may be implemented as one ofvarious apparatuses, such as a monitor, a portable multimedia apparatus,a portable communication apparatus, a portable computing apparatus, etc.That is, a kind of the display apparatus 100 is not limited as long asthe display apparatus 100 is capable of visually displaying images.

Also, the display apparatus 100 may be a large format display (LFD) thatmay be installed in an outdoor space, such as the top of building or abus stop. The outdoor space is not limited to an open-air space, and thedisplay apparatus 100 may be installed in any place where many peopleare present, such as a subway station, a shopping mall, a theater, anoffice, a store, etc., even if the place is an indoor space.

The display apparatus 100 may receive video data and an audio signalfrom various content sources, and output video and audio correspondingto the video data and the audio signal. For example, the displayapparatus 100 may receive television broadcasting content through abroadcasting reception antenna or a wired cable, receive content from acontent reproducing apparatus, or receive content from a contentproviding server of a content provider.

The display apparatus 100 may include a main body 101 accommodating aplurality of components for displaying images, and a screen S providedon one side of the main body 101 to display an image I.

The main body 101 may form an outer appearance of the display apparatus100, and inside of the main body 101, the components for enabling thedisplay apparatus 100 to display an image I may be installed. The mainbody 101 shown in FIG. 1 is in the shape of a flat plate, however, ashape of the main body 101 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 1 .For example, the main body 101 may be in the shape of a curved plate ofwhich left and right sides protrude frontward and a center portion is aconcave.

The screen S may be formed on a front side of the main body 101, and animage I, which is visual information, may be displayed on the screen S.

The screen S may include a plurality of pixels P, and an image Idisplayed on the screen S may be formed by a combination of lightemitted from the pixels P. For example, light emitted from the pixels Pmay be combined like a mosaic to form an image I on the screen S.

Each of the pixels P may emit light of various brightness levels andvarious colors.

To emit light of various brightness levels, each pixel P may include acomponent (for example, an organic light emitting diode) capable ofemitting light by itself or a component (for example, a liquid crystalpanel (LCD)) capable of transmitting or blocking light emitted from abacklight unit.

To emit light of various colors, each pixel P may include a plurality ofsub pixels P_(sub1), P_(sub2), and P_(sub3). For example, the sub pixelsP_(sub1), P_(sub2), and P_(sub3) may include a red sub pixel capable ofemitting red light, a green sub pixel capable of emitting green light,and a blue sub pixel capable of emitting blue light (collectively, RGBpixels). As another example, each pixel P may include a red sub pixel, agreen sub pixel, a blue sub pixel, and a white sub pixel capable ofemitting white light (collectively, RGBW pixels). As another example,each pixel P may include a red sub pixel, a green sub pixel, a blue subpixel, and a yellow sub pixel capable of emitting yellow light(collectively, RGBY pixels).

However, sub pixel structures are not limited to the above-describedstructures, and may include other various sub pixel structures that areknown or may be known in future.

The display apparatus 100 may include various types of display panelscapable of displaying an image I. For example, the display apparatus 100may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode(LED) panel, or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel.

Hereinafter, as an example of the display apparatus 100, a displayapparatus including a LCD panel will be described.

A network NT may include wired and wireless networks. The wired networkmay include a cable network or a telephone network based on Ethernet(IEEE 802.3 standard), or the Internet. The wireless network may bebased on Wi-Fi (WiFi™ IEEE 802.11 standard), Bluetooth (Bluetooth™, IEEE802.15.1 standard), or Zigbee (Zigbee™, IEEE 802.15.4 standard). Also,the wireless network may include a mobile communication service network,such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), CodeDivision Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000), Wireless Broadband (Wibro),World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution(LTE), Wireless Broadband Evolution (Wibro Evolution), etc. However, thenetwork NT is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and mayinclude a network of a communication service that may be implemented infuture.

For example, the network NT may include an access point (AP). Thedisplay apparatus 100 may access the AP by using a short-range wirelesscommunication standard, and the AP may access the Internet through awired network provided by an Internet service provider. The short-rangewireless communication may include a communication method, such asWi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Infrared communication, Ultra Wide Band (UWB)communication, etc. Also, the AP may be replaced by a hub, a router, aswitch, a gateway, etc.

The service apparatus 200 may be operated by a manufacturer, a seller,or a service agent of the display apparatus 100.

The service apparatus 200 may include a database storing data related toimage quality changes that are caused by long-term use of the displayapparatus 100 and parameters for correcting the image quality changesthat are caused by long-term use of the display apparatus 100.

The service apparatus 200 may receive operation information andenvironment information from the display apparatus 100 through thenetwork NT, and determine a degree of an image quality change caused bylong-term use of the display apparatus 100, based on the operationinformation and environment information of the display apparatus 100.Also, the service apparatus 200 may output a parameter for correcting animage quality change caused by long-term use of the display apparatus100.

The service apparatus 200 may operate as a cloud server. For example,the service apparatus 200 may receive a request from the displayapparatus 100 on the web, and provide the display apparatus 100 with aparameter for correcting an image quality change caused by long-term useof the display apparatus 100 in response to the request from the displayapparatus 100.

However, the service apparatus 200 is not limited to a cloud server. Forexample, the network NT may be omitted, and the display apparatus 100may be connected directly to the service apparatus 200. When the displayapparatus 100 is connected directly to the service apparatus 200, theservice apparatus 200 may be a peripheral device of the displayapparatus 100, such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, etc.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the display apparatusaccording to an embodiment. FIG. 3 shows an example of a backlight unitincluded in the display apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 4shows an example of a liquid crystal panel included in the displayapparatus according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2 , various components for creating an image I on thescreen S may be installed in the main body 101.

For example, the main body 101 may include a backlight unit 110 foremitting surface light in a front direction, a liquid crystal panel 120for blocking or transmitting light emitted from the backlight unit 110,a control assembly 102 for controlling operations of the backlight unit110 and the liquid crystal panel 120, and a power supply assembly 103for supplying power to the backlight unit 110 and the liquid crystalpanel 120. Also, the main body 101 may further include a bezel 101 a, amiddle mold frame 101 b, a bottom chassis 101 c, and a rear cover 101 dfor supporting the liquid crystal panel 120, the backlight unit 110, thecontrol assembly 102, and the power supply assembly 103.

The backlight unit 110 may include a point light source for emittingmonochromatic light or white light, and may refract, reflect, andscatter light to convert light emitted from the point light source intouniform surface light.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3 , the backlight unit 110 may include alight-emitting module 111 for generating light, a reflective sheet 112for reflecting light, a diffuser plate 113 for diffusing light, and anoptical sheet 114 for improving brightness.

The light-emitting module 111 may include a plurality of light sources111 a for emitting light, and a support 111 b for supporting/fixing thelight sources 111 a.

The light sources 111 a may be arranged uniformly and emit light towardthe front direction. The light sources 111 a may be arranged in apredetermined pattern such that light emitted from the light sources 111a have uniform brightness. More specifically, the light sources 111 amay be arranged such that distances between the light sources areconstant or equal.

Each light source 111 a may be capable of emitting, when current issupplied or a voltage is applied, monochromatic light (light having apredetermined wavelength, for example, blue light) or white light (mixedlight of light having a plurality of wavelengths) in various directions.For example, the light source 111 a may include a LED with a smallamount of heat generation.

The support 111 b may fix the light sources 111 a such that positions ofthe light sources 111 a do not change. Also, the support 111 b maysupply power to the light sources 111 a to emit light. The support 111 bmay be made of a synthetic resin forming a conductive power supply linefor fixing the light sources 111 a and supplying power to the lightsources 111 a, or may be implemented as a printed circuit board (PCB).

The reflective sheet 112 may reflect light travelling forward from thelight sources 111 a or light reflected backward from the diffuser plate113. The reflective sheet 112 may reflect light travelling backward fromthe diffuser plate 113 so that the light travels toward the frontdirection or substantially in the front direction.

In the reflective sheet 112, a plurality of through holes 112 a may beformed to correspond to each of the light sources 111 a of thelight-emitting module 111. The light emitted from light sources 111 a ofthe light-emitting module 111 may pass through the through holes 112 ato travel toward the front direction of the reflective sheet 112.Thereby, the light sources 111 a may emit light in the front directionof the reflective sheet 112.

The diffuser plate 113 may be positioned in front of the light-emittingmodule 111 and the reflective sheet 112, and uniformly diffuse lightemitted from the light sources 111 a of the light-emitting module 111.

Although the light sources 111 a are arranged at equidistant intervalson a rear surface of the backlight unit 110, brightness non-uniformitymay occur over the entire of the backlight unit 110 according to thepositions of the light sources 111 a.

The diffuser plate 113 may diffuse light emitted from the light sources111 a to remove brightness non-uniformity caused by the light sources111 a. In other words, non-uniform light from the light sources 111 amay be incident to the diffuser plate 113, and uniform light may beemitted from a front surface of the diffuser plate 113.

The optical sheet 114 may include various sheets to improve brightnessof the backlight unit 110 and enhance brightness uniformity. Forexample, the optical sheet 114 may include a diffuser sheet 114 a, afirst prism sheet 114 b, a second prism sheet 114 c, and a reflectivepolarizing sheet 114 d.

The liquid crystal panel 120 may be positioned in front of the backlightunit 110, and block or transmit light emitted from the backlight unit110 to form an image I.

A front surface of the liquid crystal panel 120 may form the screen S ofthe display apparatus 100 as described above, and may include theplurality of pixels P. The pixels P included in the liquid crystal panel120 may block or transmit light emitted from the backlight unit 110,independently, and light transmitted through the pixels P may form animage I that is displayed on the screen S.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4 , the liquid crystal panel 120 mayinclude a first polarizing film 121, a first transparent substrate 122,a pixel electrode 123, a thin-film transistor 124, a liquid crystallayer 125, a common electrode 126, a color filter 127, a secondtransparent substrate 128, and a second polarizing film 129.

The first transparent substrate 122 and the second transparent substrate128 may fix and support the pixel electrode 123, the thin-filmtransistor 124, the liquid crystal layer 125, the common electrode 126,and the color filter 127. The first and second transparent substrates122 and 128 may be made of tempered glass or a transparent resin.

On outer surfaces of the first transparent substrate 122 and the secondtransparent substrate 128, the first polarizing film 121 and the secondpolarizing film 129 may be disposed, respectively.

Each of the first polarizing film 121 and the second polarizing film 129may transmit predetermined light and block the other light. For example,the first polarizing film 121 may transmit first polarized light andblock the other light. Also, the second polarizing film 129 may transmitsecond polarized light and block the other light. A first polarizationdirection of the first polarized light may be orthogonal to a secondpolarization direction of the second polarized light.

On an inner side of the second transparent substrate 128, that is,behind the second transparent substrate 128, the color filter 127 may bedisposed.

The color filter 127 may include a first filter 127 a, a second filter127 b, and a third filter 127 c, and the first filter 127 a, the secondfilter 127 b, and the third filter 127 c may be arranged adjacent to oneanother.

An area where the color filter 127 is formed may correspond to thepixels P described above. More specifically, an area where the firstfilter 127 a is formed may correspond to the first sub pixel P_(sub1),an area where the second filter 127 b is formed may correspond to thesecond sub pixel P_(sub2), and an area where the third filter 127 c isformed may correspond to the third sub pixel P_(sub3).

On the inner side of the second transparent substrate 128, the thin-filmtransistor 124 may be disposed. Based on turning-on (close) orturning-off (open) the thin-film transistor 114, an electric field maybe formed between the pixel electrode 123 and the common electrode 126,or an electric field formed between the pixel electrode 123 and thecommon electrode 126 may be removed.

In front of the first transparent substrate 122, the pixel electrode 123may be disposed, and behind the second transparent substrate 128, thecommon electrode 126 may be disposed. More specifically, the pixelelectrode 123 may be disposed on an upper surface of the firsttransparent substrate 122 and the common electrode 126 may be disposedon a lower surface of the color filter 127.

The pixel electrode 123 and the common electrode 126 may be made of anelectrically conductive metal material, and may form an electric fieldfor changing alignment of liquid crystal molecules 125 a constitutingthe liquid crystal layer 125.

Between the pixel electrode 123 and the common electrode 126, the liquidcrystal layer 125 may be formed, and the liquid crystal layer 125 may befilled with the liquid crystal modules 125 a.

Liquid crystal has an intermediate state between a solid (crystal) stateand a liquid state. The liquid crystal may show an optical propertyaccording to a change in electric field. For example, the direction ofthe molecular arrangement of liquid crystal may change according to achange in electric field.

When an electric field is formed in the liquid crystal layer 125, theliquid crystal molecules 125 a of the liquid crystal layer 125 may bearranged according to the direction of the electric field. Conversely,when no electric field is formed in the liquid crystal layer 125, theliquid crystal molecules 125 a may be arranged irregularly or accordingto an alignment layer. As a result, the optical property of the liquidcrystal layer 125 may depend on the presence/absence of an electricfield passing through the liquid crystal layer 125.

At an edge of the liquid crystal panel 120, a cable 120 a fortransmitting image data to the liquid crystal panel 120, and a displaydriver integrated (DDI) circuit (hereinafter, referred to as a ‘driverIC’) 104 for processing image data and outputting an analog image signalmay be positioned.

The cable 120 a may electrically connect the control assembly 102 and/orpower supply assembly 103 to the driver IC 104, and electrically connectthe driver IC 104 to the liquid crystal panel 120.

The driver IC 104 may receive image data and power from the controlassembly 102 and the power supply assembly 103, respectively, throughthe cable 120 a, and transmit the image data and driving current to theliquid crystal panel 120 through the cable 120 a.

The control assembly 102 may include a control circuit for controllingoperations of the liquid crystal panel 120 and the backlight unit 110.The control circuit may process image data received from an externalcontent source, transmit the image data to the liquid crystal panel 120,and transmit dimming data to the backlight unit 110.

The power supply assembly 103 may supply power to the liquid crystalpanel 120 and the backlight unit 110 such that the backlight unit 110outputs surface light and the liquid crystal panel 120 blocks ortransmits light emitted from the backlight unit 110.

The control assembly 102 and the power supply assembly 103 may beimplemented with a PCB and various circuits mounted on the PCB. Forexample, a power circuit may include a capacitor, a coil, a resistor, aprocessor, and a power circuit board on which the capacitor, the coil,the resistor, and the processor are mounted. Also, the control circuitmay include a memory, a processor, and a control circuit board on whichthe memory and the processor are mounted.

FIG. 5 shows degradation in brightness of the light source according toa total operating time of the display apparatus according to anembodiment. FIG. 6 shows a reduction of an expected life of the lightsource with respect to operating temperature of the display apparatusaccording to an embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a change of a color gamutaccording to a total operating time of the display apparatus accordingto an embodiment. FIG. 8 shows degradation in brightness of the lightsource with respect to a continuous operation time of the displayapparatus according to an embodiment.

The display apparatus 100 may include the backlight unit 110 foremitting light, and the liquid crystal panel 120 for blocking ortransmitting light emitted from the backlight unit 110. Because theliquid crystal panel 120 blocks or transmits light emitted from thebacklight unit 110, the display apparatus 100 may display an imagehaving various colors and various brightness levels.

The display apparatus 100 may be designed to display optimal images forusers when being manufactured as a product. However, as an operatingtime of the display apparatus 100 increases, performance of the displayapparatus 100 may be degraded gradually. In other words, as an operatingtime of the display apparatus 100 tolls over time, image quality of thedisplay apparatus 100 may be degraded.

Degradation in image quality of the display apparatus 100 may resultfrom various causes.

For example, the image quality of the display apparatus 100 may bedegraded when brightness of the light sources 111 a included in thebacklight unit 110 is degraded.

As shown in FIG. 5 , as a total operating time of the display apparatus100 increases, a total operating time of the light sources 111 a mayincrease, and as the total operating time of the light sources 111 aincreases, intensity of light emitted from the light sources 111 a maybe reduced gradually. As shown in FIG. 5 , when the operating time ofthe light sources 111 a reaches 3000 hours, the brightness of the lightsources 111 a may be reduced by about 8% from that of the light sources111 a when the light sources 111 a operate for the first time.

Degradation in brightness of the light sources 111 a may be acceleratedby an increase of an operating temperature. In other words, at higheroperating temperature of the light sources 111 a, the brightness of thelight sources 111 a may be degraded more quickly.

For example, it may be assumed that, when the brightness of the lightsources 111 a is degraded by about 50% from that of the light sources111 a when the light sources 111 a operate for the first time, a life ofthe light sources 111 a ends. As shown in FIG. 6 , the life of the lightsources 111 a may be shorter at higher operating temperature. The lightsources 111 a may have a life of about 120,000 hours at a generaloperating temperature of about 80 t of the display apparatus 100,whereas the light sources 111 a may have a life of about 40,000 hours atan operating temperature of about 110° C.

As such, at higher operating temperature of the display apparatus 100the brightness of the light sources 111 a may be degraded more quickly.

When the brightness of the light sources 111 a is degraded, brightnessof an image displayed on the display apparatus 100 may be degraded, anda contrast of the image may also be degraded. Furthermore, when thebrightness of the light sources 111 a is degraded, sharpness of an imagedisplayed on the display apparatus 100 may be degraded, and colors maybe blurred. Therefore, when the brightness of the light sources 111 a isdegraded, overall image quality of the display apparatus 100 may bedegraded.

In addition, when the brightness of the light sources 111 a is degraded,a color gamut of the display apparatus 100 may also change.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7 , the display apparatus 100 may bedesigned to represent colors of a first color region R1 according to theInternational Organization for Standardization. However, due todegradation in brightness of the light sources 111 a, a color gamutcapable of being represented by the display apparatus 100 may be biasedto a second color region R2 or a third color region R3.

Due to an increase of an operating time of the display apparatus 100,performance of other optical components as well as the performance ofthe light sources 111 a may also be degraded.

For example, performance of the diffuser plate 113 included in thebacklight unit 110 may be degraded, and accordingly, the brightness ofthe backlight unit 110 may be degraded or brightness uniformity of thebacklight unit 110 may be degraded. Also, performance of the opticalsheet 114 included in the backlight unit 110 may be degraded, andaccordingly, the brightness of the backlight unit 110 may be degraded.

Also, performance of the liquid crystal layer 125 included in the liquidcrystal panel 120 may be degraded, and accordingly, brightnessuniformity of the pixels P may be degraded. In addition, performance ofthe color filter 127 included in the liquid crystal panel 120 may bedegraded, and accordingly, a color gamut of the display apparatus 100may change.

As the display apparatus 100 continues to operate after the displayapparatus 100 is powered on (in other words, when the liquid crystalpanel 120 and the backlight unit 110 start to operate), the imagequality of the display apparatus 100 may be degraded.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8 , as a continuous operating time of thedisplay apparatus 100 increases, the brightness of the light sources 111a included in the display apparatus 100 may be degraded gradually.

Specifically, at a time of T1, the display apparatus 100 may be poweredon, and after the time of T1, the brightness of the display apparatus100 may gradually decrease. At a time of T2, the display apparatus 100may be powered off. When the display apparatus 100 is again powered onat a time of T3, the brightness of the display apparatus 100 may returnto its original brightness. After the time of T3, the brightness of thedisplay apparatus 100 may again gradually decrease. Thereafter, at atime of T4, the display apparatus 100 may be powered off, and when thedisplay apparatus 100 is again powered on at a time of T5, thebrightness of the display apparatus 100 may again return to its originalbrightness.

During a short time (for example, several minutes or hours) in which thedisplay apparatus 100 operates continuously, the brightness of thedisplay apparatus 100 may be degraded gradually.

As described above, the image quality of the display apparatus 100 maybe degraded over a long time or during a short time. The displayapparatus 100 may compensate for degradation of image quality togetherwith the service apparatus 200.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration of the display apparatus according to anembodiment.

In the inside of the main body 101 of the display apparatus 100,components for executing functions of the display apparatus 100 may beinstalled.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the display apparatus 100 may include a userinputter 130 for acquiring a user input from a user, a content receiver140 for receiving video data and/or an audio signal from contentsources, an image display 150 for displaying images, a sound outputter160 for outputting sound, a communicator 170 for communicating with theservice apparatus 200, a temperature sensor 181 for measuringtemperature of the image display 150, an illuminance sensor 182 formeasuring an illuminance outside the display 100, and a controller 190for processing video data and/or an audio signal received by the contentreceiver 140 and controlling operations of the display apparatus 100.

The user inputter 130 may include an input button 131 for acquiring auser input. For example, the input button 131 may include a power buttonfor turning on/off the display apparatus 100, a volume control buttonfor enabling a user to control a volume of sound that is output from thedisplay apparatus 100, a source selection button for enabling a user toselect a content source, etc.

The input button 131 may acquire a user input, and output an electricalsignal (a voltage or current) corresponding to the user input to thecontroller 190. The input button 131 may be implemented by various inputdevices, such as a push switch, a touch switch, a dial, a slide switch,a toggle switch, etc.

The user inputter 130 may include a signal receiver 132 for receiving aremote control signal of a remote controller 130 a. The remotecontroller 130 a for acquiring a user input may be separated from thedisplay apparatus 100. The remote controller 130 a may acquire a userinput and transmit a wireless signal corresponding to the user input tothe display apparatus 100. The signal receiver 132 may receive thewireless signal from the remote controller 130 a, and output anelectrical signal (a voltage or current) corresponding to the user inputto the controller 190.

The content receiver 140 may include a reception terminal 141 forreceiving content including video data and/or an audio signal fromcontent sources, and a tuner 142.

The reception terminal 141 may receive video data and an audio signalfrom the content sources through a cable. For example, the receptionterminal 141 may include, for example, a component (YPbPr/RGB) terminal,a composite video blanking and sync (CVBS) terminal, an audio terminal,a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) terminal, a universalserial bus (USB) terminal, etc.

The tuner 142 may receive broadcasting signals from a broadcastreception antenna or a wired cable, and extract a broadcasting signal ofa channel selected by a user from among the broadcasting signals. Forexample, the tuner 142 may transmit a broadcasting signal having afrequency corresponding to a channel selected by a user from among aplurality of broadcasting signals received through a broadcast receptionantenna or a wired cable, and block the remaining broadcasting signalshaving the other frequencies.

The content receiver 140 may receive video data and an audio signal fromcontent sources through the reception terminal 141 and/or the tuner 142,and output the video data and/or the audio signal to the controller 190.

The image display 150 may include the backlight unit 110 and the liquidcrystal panel 120 for visually displaying images, a backlight driver 151for driving the backlight unit 110, and a liquid crystal panel driver152 for driving the liquid crystal panel 120.

The backlight driver 151 may perform local diming to change brightnesslevels of the backlight unit 110 depending on image data received fromthe controller 190. More specifically, the backlight driver 151 maysupply driving current to the light-emitting module 111 of the backlightunit 110 such that the backlight unit 110 emits light of differentbrightness levels at different locations of the backlight unit 110. Inother words, based on the image data received from the controller 190requiring different brightness levels in an image, the backlight driver151 may supply driving current to the light-emitting module 111 of thebacklight unit 110 so that the required different brightness levels canbe reflected in the image by controlling different locations or regionsof the backlight unit 110.

The backlight driver 151 may acquire a driving parameter from thecontroller 190, and supply driving current (or a driving voltage) to thebacklight unit 110 depending on the driving parameter. For example, thedriving parameter may include a driving current gain. The backlightdriver 151 may amplify driving current to be supplied to the backlightunit 110, depending on the driving current gain.

The liquid crystal panel 120 and the backlight unit 110 may be the sameas the liquid crystal panel 120 and the backlight unit 110 describedabove with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 .

The liquid crystal panel driver 152 may receive image data from thecontroller 190, and control the plurality of pixels P included in theliquid crystal panel 120 to transmit or block light depending on theimage data.

The liquid crystal panel driver 152 may include the display driver IC104 described above with reference to FIG. 2 .

The plurality of pixels P of the liquid crystal panel 120 may bearranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and theliquid crystal panel driver 152 may include a gate driver for activatingpixels included in any one of the plurality of rows of the liquidcrystal panel 120, and a source driver for transmitting image data tothe pixels activated by the gate driver.

The source driver may transmit image data to pixels included in a firstrow, pixels included in a second row, pixels included in a third row, .. . , and pixels included in a n-th row, sequentially. The image datamay include color information and brightness information for each pixelP.

The source driver may convert image data into an analog voltage signal,and supply the analog voltage signal to the individual pixels P. Here, avoltage value of the analog voltage signal may depend on lighttransmittance of the liquid crystal panel 120 according to voltage. Morespecifically, the source driver may transfer an analog voltage signalhaving a voltage value corresponding to brightness information that theimage data represents, to the pixels P.

The backlight driver 151 may supply driving current (or a drivingvoltage) to the backlight unit 110 in response to the image datareceived from the controller 190.

As such, the image display 150 may display an image having variouscolors and contrasts corresponding to the image data from the controller190.

The sound outputter 160 may include a sound amplifier 161 for amplifyingsound, and a speaker 162 for aurally outputting the amplified sound. Thespeaker 162 may convert an analog sound signal amplified by the soundamplifier 161 into sound (sound waves). For example, the speaker 162 mayinclude a thin film that vibrates according to an electrical soundsignal, and by a vibration of the thin film, sound waves may begenerated.

The communicator 170 may include a wired communication module 171communicating with an external apparatus (for example, a serviceapparatus) in a wired manner, and a wireless communication module 172communicating with an external apparatus in a wireless manner.

The wired communication module 171 may access a gateway of an Internetservice provider through a cable connected from the display apparatus100 to the gateway. For example, the wired communication module 171 maycommunicate with the gateway through the Ethernet. The wiredcommunication module 171 may transmit/receive data to/from the serviceapparatus 200 on a network via the gateway.

The wireless communication module 172 may communicate with an AP (or auser's gateway) connected to the gateway of the Internet serviceprovider in a wireless manner. For example, the wireless communicationmodule 172 may communicate with an AP through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, orZigbee. The wireless communication module 172 may transmit/receive datato/from the service apparatus 200 on the network via the AP and thegateway.

As such, the communicator 170 may transmit/receive data to/from theservice apparatus 200 in response to a control signal of the controller190. The communicator 170 may transfer communication data received froman external apparatus to the controller 190, and transfer communicationdata acquired from the controller 190 to the external apparatus.

The temperature sensor 181 may measure temperature of the backlight unit110, and output an electrical signal (a voltage or current)corresponding to the temperature of the backlight unit 110 to thecontroller 190. The temperature sensor 181 may be a thermistor of whichan electrical resistance value changes according to temperature.

The illuminance sensor 182 may measure an illuminance outside thedisplay apparatus 100, and output an electrical signal (a voltage orcurrent) corresponding to the illuminance to the controller 190. Theilluminance sensor 182 may be a photodiode for generating a voltage orcurrent according to an amount of incident light.

The controller 190 may include an image processor 191 for processingcontent received by the content receiver 140 to generate image data andsound data, a memory 192 for recording and/or storing programs and datafor processing content, and a microcontroller 193 for controllingoperations of the display apparatus 100 in response to a user inputreceived by the user inputter 130.

The image processor 191 may decode video data received by the contentreceiver 140 to generate image data, and decode an audio signal receivedby the content receiver 140 to generate sound data. The image data andthe sound data may be output to the image display 150 and the soundoutputter 160, respectively.

The image processor 191 may process video data based on various imageparameters to generate image data.

The image parameters may include, for example, a brightness levelrepresenting a degree of brightness and darkness of an image, a contrastrepresenting a ratio of a brightness level of a dark area to abrightness level of a bright area, a sharpness level representing adegree of sharpness of an image, a color density representing a degreeof thickness (or lightness) of a color of an image, and a colorrepresenting a balance between a blue color, a green color, and a redcolor. Furthermore, the image parameters may further include gammarepresenting a nonlinear relation between a brightness level by imagedata and a brightness level of the display apparatus 100, a color gamutrepresenting an expression range of a color, and a chroma representing adegree of sharpness of a color.

The image parameters are not limited to parameters that are adjustableby a user, such as a brightness level, a contrast, a sharpness level, acolor density, a color, etc. The image parameters may also includehidden parameters that are adjustable by an after-sales servicepersonnel of a manufacturer or a designer of the display apparatus 100.The hidden parameters may not be published to a user, and may beadjustable in a factory mode through an authentication procedure. Forexample, the hidden parameters may include a regional setting, a tunersetting, a country setting, a target color gamut, a signal format, aservice server address, an encoder/decoder option, a connector option, acommunication option, etc.

The image parameters may have been set in advance by a designer of thedisplay apparatus 100, or may be set by a user.

The image processor 191 may generate image data depending on abrightness level, a contrast, a sharpness level, a color density, acolor, gamma, a color gamut, a chroma, etc., which have been set inadvance or may be set by a user.

The image processor 191 may include an operational circuit that performslogic operations and arithmetic operations, and a storage circuit thatstores operated data.

The memory 192 may store programs and data for processing video dataincluded in content, and store temporary data that may be generated whenthe image processor 191 processes video data.

The memory 192 may store image parameters for enabling the imageprocessor 191 to process video data. For example, the memory 192 maystore a brightness level, a contrast, a sharpness level, a colordensity, a color, gamma, a color gamut, a chroma, etc., which have beenset in advance or may be set by a user. Also, the memory 192 may store adriving current gain for controlling the backlight driver 151.

The memory 192 may include a non-volatile memory for storing data for along time, such as read only memory (ROM) and a flash memory, and avolatile memory for temporarily storing data, such as a static randomaccess memory (S-RAM) and a dynamic random access memory (D-RAM).

The microcontroller 193 may control the display apparatus 100 inresponse to a user input received through the user inputter 130.

For example, the microcontroller 193 may control the tuner 142 toextract a broadcasting signal of a channel selected by a user input forchanging a channel. The microcontroller 193 may change the brightnesslevel, the contrast, the sharpness level, the color density, the color,the gamma, the color gamut, and the chroma stored in the memory 192, inresponse to a user input for changing an image parameter. Also, themicrocontroller 193 may change the driving current gain stored in thememory 192 in response to a user input for changing a driving parameter.

As a total operating time of the display apparatus 100 increases, theimage quality of the display apparatus 100 may be degraded. A user mayinput different settings for improving the image quality of the displayapparatus 100 to compensate for degradation in image quality of thedisplay apparatus 100.

The microcontroller 193 may acquire a user input for improving the imagequality of the display apparatus 100 through the user inputter 130. Themicrocontroller 193 may collect operation information and environmentinformation of the display apparatus 100 in response to a user input forimproving the image quality of the display apparatus 100, and controlthe communicator 170 to transmit the operation information andenvironment information of the display apparatus 100 and a request for aparameter for improving the image quality of the display apparatus 100to the service apparatus 200.

According to an embodiment, the operation information may includeidentification information of the display apparatus 100, a totaloperating time of the display apparatus 100, operating temperature ofthe display apparatus 100, driving current that is supplied to thebacklight unit 110, an image parameter that is currently applied to thedisplay apparatus 100, etc. The environment information may include aregion in which the display apparatus 100 is installed, illuminanceoutside the display apparatus 100, etc. However, the operationinformation and environment information of the display apparatus 100,which are transmitted to the service apparatus 200, are not limited tothe above-mentioned information, and may include other variousinformation about operation states and surrounding environments of thedisplay apparatus 100.

The service apparatus 200 may output an image parameter and a drivingparameter for improving the image quality of the display apparatus 100depending on the operation information and environment informationreceived from the display apparatus 100, The service apparatus 200 maytransmit the image parameter and the driving parameter for improving theimage quality of the display apparatus 100 to the display apparatus 100.

The microcontroller 193 may receive the image parameter and the drivingparameter from the service apparatus 200 through the communicator 170,and store the received image parameter and the received drivingparameter in the memory 192. The image processor 191 may generate imagedata depending on the image parameter stored in the memory 192. Also,the liquid crystal panel driver 152 and the backlight driver 151 maydrive the liquid crystal panel 120 and the backlight unit 110,respectively, depending on the driving parameter stored in the memory192.

The microcontroller 193 and the image processor 191 may be implementedas separate chips, or may be integrated into a single chip.

As such, the controller 190 may process video data included in contentto generate image data, and control the display apparatus 100 inresponse to a user input. Also, the controller 190 may acquire an imageparameter and a driving parameter for improving image quality from theservice apparatus 200.

FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a service apparatus according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the service apparatus 200 may include acommunication interface 210, an information inputter 220, a database230, a processor 240, and a parameter outputter 250.

The communication interface 210 may receive operationinformation/environment information and a parameter request from thedisplay apparatus 100, and transmit an image parameter and a drivingparameter to the display apparatus 100.

For example, the service apparatus 200 may be connected to the Internetwhich is a wide-area network, and the communication interface 210 mayreceive the operation information/environment information and theparameter request of the display apparatus 100 through the Internet.Also, the communication interface 210 may transmit the image parameterand the driving parameter to the display apparatus 100 through theInternet.

The communication interface 210 may be electrically connected to theinformation inputter 220, and may transfer the operationinformation/environment information of the display apparatus 100 and theparameter request to the information inputter 220. The communicationinterface 210 may be electrically connected to the parameter outputter250, receive the image parameter and the driving parameter from theparameter outputter 250, and transmit the image parameter and thedriving parameter to the display apparatus 100.

The information inputter 220 may receive the operationinformation/environment information of the display apparatus 100 and theparameter request from the communication interface 210, and perform apreparation operation for enabling the processor 240 to process theoperation information and the environment information of the displayapparatus 100. For example, the information inputter 220 may convert theoperation information and the environment information of the displayapparatus 100 into a format that may be processed by the processor 240.Also, the information inputter 220 may transfer the operationinformation and the environment information to the processor 240 inorder of which the parameter request is received.

The database 230 may include information about display apparatuses ofvarious models manufactured by various manufacturers.

The database 230 may include information about deterioration of thedisplay apparatuses according to operation information and environmentinformation of the display apparatuses. For example, the database 230may include identification information of the display apparatuses, andinformation about brightness reductions and/or color changes of thedisplay apparatuses depending on total operating times and averagetemperatures of the display apparatuses.

The information about brightness reductions and/or color changes of thedisplay apparatuses may be acquired experimentally or empirically. Forexample, the display apparatuses may operate experimentally at varioustemperatures, and designers of the display apparatuses may measurebrightness reductions and/or color changes of the display apparatusesaccording to the operating times of the display apparatuses by using anoptical measuring system. The brightness reductions and/or color changesof the display apparatuses acquired experimentally or empirically may bestored in the service apparatus 200.

Also, the database 230 may include information about deterioration ofthe display apparatuses according to sales regions of the displayapparatuses. For example, Asia, Europe, North America, and South Americamay use different broadcasting image compression standards. Accordingly,display apparatuses suitable for respective regions may be designed andsold. The regions may be under different temperature and humidityconditions, and due to the different temperature and humidity conditionsof the regions, different image quality changes may occur according tototal operating times of the display apparatuses. The database 230 maystore information about different image quality changes depending on theregions.

The database 230 may include image parameters and driving parameters forimproving the image qualities of the display apparatuses incorrespondence to the information about the brightness reductions and/orcolor changes of the display apparatuses and the environment informationof the display apparatuses.

The image parameters and the driving parameters corresponding to thebrightness reductions and/or color changes of the display apparatusesmay be acquired experimentally or empirically. For example, thedesigners of the display apparatuses may experimentally acquire imageparameters and driving parameters for increasing brightness tocompensate for a reduction of the brightness and restoring a color toits original state to correct a change of the color. The imageparameters and the driving parameters of the display apparatusesacquired experimentally or empirically may be stored in the serviceapparatus 200.

The database 230 may include image parameters and driving parameterscapable of correcting brightness reductions and/or color changes of thedisplay apparatuses. The database 230 may store image parameters anddriving parameters for improving the image qualities of the displayapparatuses depending on environments (for example, geographic locationswhere the display apparatuses are installed and illuminance outside thedisplay apparatuses) in which the display apparatuses are installed, aswell as for correcting brightness reductions and/or color changes of thedisplay apparatuses. For example, the database 230 may include imageparameters and driving parameters for correcting brightness reductionsand/or color changes of the display apparatuses depending on thegeographic location where the display apparatus is installed andilluminance outside the display apparatus.

The database 230 may include image parameters and driving parameterscapable of correcting brightness reductions and/or color changes of thedisplay apparatuses according to sales regions of the displayapparatuses. For example, the database 230 may include image parametersand driving parameters for correcting brightness reductions and/or colorchanges of the display apparatuses in consideration of averagetemperature and average humidity of the sales regions.

Furthermore, one display apparatus may have deviations in brightnessreductions and/or color changes compared to another display apparatus.For example, products of the same model may have deviations of imagequality changes according to manufacturing dates or components. Thedatabase 230 may store information about a deviation of a brightnessreduction and/or a color change that may be generated for each productof the display apparatuses. Also, the database 230 may include an imageparameter and a driving parameter for correcting a brightness reductionand/or a color change by reflecting a deviation of each product.

The processor 240 may acquire operation information and environmentinformation of the display apparatus 100 from the information inputter220, and verify the operation information and environment information ofthe display apparatus 100.

The processor 240 may determine whether the operation information andenvironment information of the display apparatus 100 are within apredetermined range. For example, the processor 240 may determinewhether an operating temperature of the display apparatus 100 is withina predetermined temperature range, and, when the processor 240determines that the operating temperature of the display apparatus 100is out of the predetermined temperature range, the processor 240 maydetermine an erroneous operation of the display apparatus 100.Accordingly, the processor 240 may output a warning message indicatingan erroneous operation of the display apparatus 100.

When the processor 240 determines that the operation information andenvironment information of the display apparatus 100 are within thepredetermined range, the processor 240 may continue to process theoperation information and environment information of the displayapparatus 100.

The processor 240 may use the operation information of the displayapparatus 100 to search the database 230 to obtain information about abrightness reduction and/or color change of a display apparatuscorresponding to the operation information of the display apparatus 100.

The processor 240 may use the environment information of the displayapparatus 100 to search the database 230 to obtain an image parameterand a driving parameter corresponding to the brightness reduction and/orcolor change of the display apparatus 100. The processor 240 may acquirean image parameter and a driving parameter for correcting the brightnessreduction and/or color change of the display apparatus 100 from thedatabase 230.

The parameter outputter 250 may receive the image parameter and thedriving parameter for the display apparatus 100 from the processor 240,and transfer the image parameter and the driving parameter to thecommunication interface 210.

For example, the parameter outputter 250 may convert the image parameteroutput from the processor 240 into a format that may be processed by thedisplay apparatus 100. The parameter outputter 250 may generate updatedata for updating the image parameter and the driving parameter of thedisplay apparatus 100.

The parameter outputter 250 may transfer the update data to thecommunication interface 210.

The communication interface 210 may transfer the update data output fromthe parameter outputter 250 to the display apparatus 100 through anetwork NT.

As such, the service apparatus 200 may receive operation information andenvironment information from the display apparatus 100, and acquire animage parameter and a driving parameter for correcting a brightnessreduction and/or color change of the display apparatus 100 based on theoperation information and environment information of the displayapparatus 100.

FIG. 11 shows an example of an operation for correcting an image qualitychange caused by long-term use of the display apparatus according to anembodiment. FIG. 12 shows an example screen for image correctionsettings that is displayed by the display apparatus according to anembodiment.

Hereinafter, an operation 1000 for correcting an image quality changecaused by long-term use of the display apparatus 100 will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 .

The display apparatus 100 may acquire a user input for image correctionfrom a user, in operation 1010.

As a total operating time of the display apparatus 100 increases after auser purchases the display apparatus 100, image quality of the displayapparatus 100 may gradually degrade. That is, degradation in imagequality of the display apparatus 100 may be caused by a reduction inintensity of light emitted from the light sources 111 a included in thebacklight unit 110 as a total operating time of the display apparatus100 increases. Also, degradation in image quality of the displayapparatus 100 may be caused by deterioration of the diffuser plate 113included in the backlight unit 110 and deterioration of the opticalsheet 114. Also, degradation in image quality of the display apparatus100 may be caused by stress on the liquid crystal layer included in theliquid crystal panel 120 and deterioration of the color filter 127.

The user may provide a user input for correcting degradation in imagequality of the display apparatus 100.

For example, the display apparatus 100 may display a setting screen 500and a picture setting screen 510 as shown in FIG. 12 , in response to auser input for a picture setting of the display apparatus 100.

The picture setting screen 510 may include a menu for adjusting an imageparameter. For example, the picture setting screen 510 may include abacklight menu 511 for adjusting brightness of the backlight unit 110, acontrast menu 512 for adjusting a contrast of the screen, a brightnessmenu 513 for adjusting a brightness level of the screen, a sharpnessmenu 514 for adjusting a sharpness level of the screen, a color densitymenu 515 for adjusting a color density of the screen, and a color menu516 for adjusting a color of the screen.

Also, the picture setting screen 510 may include an automatic adjustmentmenu 517 for automatically adjusting an image parameter.

The user may select the automatic adjustment menu 517 to correctdegradation in image quality of the display apparatus 100 by using theuser inputter 130 or the remote controller 130 a of the displayapparatus 100.

The controller 190 of the display apparatus 100 may receive the userinput for correcting degradation in image quality of the displayapparatus 100 through the user inputter 130.

As such, the display apparatus 100 may correct an image quality changecaused by long-term use in response to a user input. However, conditionsthat are used by the display apparatus 100 to correct an image qualitychange caused by long-term use is not limited hereto.

For example, the display apparatus 100 may provide the user with analarm for correcting an image quality change caused by long-term usewhenever a total operating time of the display apparatus 100 reaches apredetermined period. Specifically, the display apparatus 100 may outputa message indicating that a correction for an image quality change isneeded for the display apparatus by an image or sound whenever a totaloperating time of the display apparatus 100 reaches, for example, 500hours, 1,000 hours, 1,500 hours, and 2,000 hours. The user may check themessage, and provide a user input for correcting degradation in imagequality of the display apparatus 100. Therefore, the display apparatus100 may guide the user to correct an image quality change everypredetermined period.

The display apparatus 100 may determine whether a total operating timeof the display apparatus 100 reaches the predetermined period when thedisplay apparatus 100 is powered on or off. When the display apparatus100 determines that the total operating time of the display apparatus100 reaches the predetermined period, the display apparatus 100 mayprovide the user with an alarm for correcting an image quality changecaused by long-term use. For example, when the display apparatus 100 ispowered on/off, the display apparatus 100 may determine whether a totaloperating time of the display apparatus 100 reaches, for example, 500hours, 1,000 hours, 1,500 hours, or 2,000 hours. When the displayapparatus 100 determines that the total operating time of the displayapparatus 100 reaches about 500 hours, 1,000 hours, 1,500 hours, or2,000 hours, the display apparatus 100 may output a message indicatingthat a correction for an image quality change is needed for the displayapparatus by an image or sound.

Alternatively, whenever the total operating time of the displayapparatus 100 reaches the predetermined period, the display apparatus100 may automatically correct an image quality change caused bylong-term use. For example, whenever the total operating time of thedisplay apparatus 100 reaches, for example, 500 hours, 1,000 hours,1,500 hours, or 2,000 hours, the display apparatus 100 may request theservice apparatus 200 to transmit an image parameter and a drivingparameter. Therefore, the display apparatus 100 may correct an imagequality change every predetermined period according to the receivedimage parameter and driving parameter.

Furthermore, whenever the display apparatus 100 is powered off, thedisplay apparatus 100 may still correct an image quality change causedby long-term use. When a user's operation off input is received throughthe user inputter 130 or the remote controller 130 a, the displayapparatus 100 may request the service apparatus 200 to transmit an imageparameter and a driving parameter. Therefore, the display apparatus 100may correct an image quality change in a state in which the screen isturned off so that the user may not recognize a correction of imagequality.

The display apparatus 100 may determine whether the total operating timeof the display apparatus 100 reaches the predetermined period when thedisplay apparatus 100 is powered off, and, when the display apparatus100 determines that the total operating time of the display apparatus100 reaches the predetermined period, the display apparatus 100 maycorrect an image quality change caused by long-term use. For example,when the display apparatus 100 is powered on or off, the displayapparatus 100 may determine whether the total operating time of thedisplay apparatus 100 reaches about 500 hours, 1,000 hours, 1,500 hours,or 2,000 hours. When the display apparatus 100 determines that the totaloperating time of the display apparatus 100 reaches about 500 hours,1,000 hours, 1,500 hours, or 2,000 hours, the display apparatus 100 mayrequest the service apparatus 200 to transmit an image parameter and adriving parameter. Therefore, the display apparatus 100 may correct animage quality change every predetermined period in the state in whichthe screen is turned off so that the user may not recognize a correctionof image quality.

The display apparatus 100 may collect operation information andenvironment information of the display apparatus 100, in operation 1020.

The controller 190 may collect information about operations of thedisplay apparatus 100 through various sensors and storage mediainstalled in the display apparatus 100.

For example, identification information of the display apparatus 100 maybe stored in advance in the memory 192. The controller 190 may measureor compute a total operating time of the display apparatus 100 after thedisplay apparatus 100 operates for the first time, and while the displayapparatus 100 operates, and the controller 190 may store the measuredtotal operating time in the memory 192. The controller 190 may acquireoperating temperature of the display apparatus 100 from the temperaturesensor 181 while the display apparatus 100 operates, and may calculateaverage operating temperature of the display apparatus 100. Also, thecontroller 190 may measure driving current that is supplied to the lightsources 111 a of the backlight unit 110 while the display apparatus 100operates. However, the embodiments described above are not limitedthereto. For example, the controller 190 may acquire operatingtemperature of the display apparatus 100 from the temperature sensor 181even when the display apparatus is not operating.

Also, the controller 190 may collect information about an environment ofthe display apparatus 100 through the various sensors and storage mediainstalled in the display apparatus 100.

For example, the controller 190 may store information about a region inwhich the display apparatus 100 is sold, and acquire illuminance outsidethe display apparatus 100 from the illuminance sensor 182 while thedisplay apparatus 100 operates. The controller 190 may also acquireilluminance information from the illuminance sensor 182 when the displayapparatus is not operating.

The display apparatus 100 may transmit a request for a parameter forimage correction of the display apparatus 100 to the service apparatus200, in operation 1030.

The controller 190 may control the communicator 170 to transmit amessage for requesting an image parameter and a driving parameter forimage correction of the display apparatus 100 to the service apparatus200. Also, the controller 190 may control the communicator 170 totransmit operation information and environment information of thedisplay apparatus 100, together with the message for requesting theimage parameter and the driving parameter, to the service apparatus 200.

The communication interface 210 of the service apparatus 200 may receivethe message for requesting the image parameter and the driving parameterand the operation information and environment information of the displayapparatus 100 from the display apparatus 100.

The service apparatus 200 may acquire a parameter for image correctionof the display apparatus 100, in operation 1040.

The processor 240 of the service apparatus 200 may process the operationinformation and environment information of the display apparatus 100, inresponse to the request for the parameter from the display apparatus100.

The processor 240 may input the operation information and environmentinformation of the display apparatus 100 simultaneously to the database230, and acquire an image parameter for correcting a brightnessreduction and/or color change of the display apparatus 100 from thedatabase 230.

The processor 240 may input the operation information of the displayapparatus 100 to the database 230, and acquire information about abrightness reduction and/or color change of the display apparatus 100corresponding to the operation information of the display apparatus 100from the database 230. The processor 240 may input, together with theinformation about the brightness reduction and/or color change of thedisplay apparatus 100, the environment information of the displayapparatus 100 to the database 230, and acquire an image parameter forcorrecting the brightness reduction and/or color change of the displayapparatus 100 from the database 230. The image parameter may include,for example, a brightness level, a contrast, a sharpness level, a colordensity, and a color of the screen of the display apparatus 100.

Also, the processor 240 may input the operation information andenvironment information of the display apparatus 100 simultaneously tothe database 230, and acquire a driving parameter for correcting thebrightness reduction and/or color change of the display apparatus 100from the database 230. The driving parameter may include, for example, adriving current gain for amplifying driving current to be supplied tothe light sources 111 a of the backlight unit 110.

The service apparatus 200 may convert the image parameter and thedriving parameter into update data for updating parameters of thedisplay apparatus 100.

The service apparatus 200 may transmit the update data of the displayapparatus 100 to the display apparatus 100, in operation 1050.

The communication interface 210 of the service apparatus 200 maytransmit the update data for updating an image parameter and a drivingparameter to the display apparatus 100.

The controller 190 of the display apparatus 100 may receive the updatedata through the communicator 170.

Then, the display apparatus 100 may update the image parameter and thedriving parameter, in operation 1060.

The controller 190 may update the image parameter and the drivingparameter by using the update data received from the service apparatus200. The controller 190 may extract an image parameter and a drivingparameter from the update data, and store the extracted image parameterand driving parameter in the memory 192.

The display apparatus 100 may display an image based on the updatedimage parameter and driving parameter. The image processor 191 mayprocess video data based on the updated image parameter stored in thememory 192 to generate image data. The backlight driver 151 of the imagedisplay 150 may supply driving current to the light sources 111 a of thebacklight unit 110 based on the updated driving parameter stored in thememory 192.

As described above, the display apparatus 100 may correct degradation ofimage quality caused by long-term use of the display apparatus 100,together with the service apparatus 200. Therefore, the displayapparatus 100 may maintain image quality of the display apparatus 100 ofwhen the user purchases the display apparatus 100 for the first time.

Particularly, the service apparatus 200 may have excellent datacomputing capability and data storage capability compared to the displayapparatus 100. Accordingly, the service apparatus 200 may processvarious operation information and various environment information of thedisplay apparatus 100, and store image parameters and driving parameterscorresponding to the various operation information and variousenvironment information.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of an operation for correcting an imagequality change caused by long-term use of the display apparatusaccording to an embodiment.

According to the embodiments described above, the display apparatus 100may correct an image quality change caused by long-term use togetherwith the service apparatus 200 through a network NT. According toanother embodiment, when the display apparatus 100 fails to access anetwork NT, the display apparatus 100 may still correct an image qualitychange by itself.

Hereinafter, an operation 1100 for correcting an image quality changecaused by long-term use of the display apparatus 100 will be describedwith reference to FIG. 13 .

The display apparatus 100 may acquire a user input for image correctionfrom a user, in operation 1110.

Operation 1110 may be the same as operation 1010 of FIG. 11 .

The display apparatus 100 may determine whether the display apparatus100 can access a network NT, in operation 1120.

The controller 190 may control the communicator 170 to transmit amessage requesting a response. Thereafter, the controller 190 maydetermine whether a response signal is received through the communicator170.

When a response signal is received, the controller 190 may determinethat the display apparatus 100 may access the network NT.

When no response signal is received in a predetermined time period, thecontroller 190 may determine that the display apparatus 100 has failedto access the network NT.

When the controller 190 determines that the display apparatus 100 mayaccess the network NT (YES in operation 1120), the display apparatus 100may connect to the network NT and acquire an image parameter and adriving parameter from the service apparatus 200, in operation 1130.

The display apparatus 100 may collect operation information andenvironment information of the display apparatus 100. The displayapparatus 100 may transmit a request for a parameter for imagecorrection of the display apparatus 100 to the service apparatus 200.The display apparatus 100 may receive update data including an imageparameter and a driving parameter from the service apparatus 200.

As such, the display apparatus 100 may perform the same operations asoperations 1020, 1030, 1040, and 1050 of FIG. 11 .

However, when the controller 190 determines that the display apparatus100 has failed to access the network NT (NO in operation 1120), thedisplay apparatus 100 may acquire a total operating time and averageoperating temperature of the display apparatus 100, in operation 1140.

The controller 190 may acquire a total operating time and averageoperating temperature of the display apparatus 100 through varioussensors and storage media installed in the display apparatus 100.

The controller 190 may measure a total operating time of the displayapparatus 100 after the display apparatus 100 operates for the firsttime, and store the measured total operating time in the memory 192. Thecontroller 190 may acquire operating temperature of the displayapparatus 100 from the temperature sensor 181 while the displayapparatus 100 operates, and calculate average operating temperature ofthe display apparatus 100.

The controller 190 may acquire a total operating time and averageoperating temperature of the display apparatus 100 from the memory 192.

The display apparatus 100 may acquire an image parameter and a drivingparameter, in operation 1150.

The controller 190 may acquire an image parameter and a drivingparameter for correcting an image quality change corresponding to thetotal operating time and average operating temperature of the displayapparatus 100 from the memory 192.

The image parameter and driving parameter for correcting the imagequality change caused by long-term use may have been stored in advancein the memory 192. The image parameter and driving parameter may havebeen set experimentally or empirically in advance by a designer of thedisplay apparatus 100, and stored in the memory 192 of the displayapparatus 100.

Also, the controller 190 may predict a brightness reduction and/or colorchange of the display apparatus 100 based on the total operating timeand average operating temperature of the display apparatus 100, andcalculate an image parameter and a driving parameter based on thepredicted brightness reduction and/or color change.

The display apparatus 100 may update an image parameter and a drivingparameter, in operation 1160.

The controller 190 may update an image parameter and a driving parameterthat are currently applied by using the acquired image parameter anddriving parameter. The display apparatus 100 may display an image basedon the updated image parameter and driving parameter.

As such, the display apparatus 100 may correct an image quality changecaused by long-term use in response to a user input. However, conditionsthat are used by the display apparatus 100 to correct an image qualitychange caused by long-term use are not limited hereto. The displayapparatus 100 may correct an image quality change caused by long-termuse whenever the total operating time of the display apparatus 100reaches the predetermined period or whenever the display apparatus 100is powered off.

As described above, the display apparatus 100 itself may correctdegradation of image quality caused by an image quality change.Therefore, the display apparatus 100 may maintain image quality of thedisplay apparatus 100 of when the user purchases the display apparatus100 for the first time.

FIG. 14 shows another flowchart of operations of the service apparatusand the display apparatus according to an embodiment.

A case in which the display apparatus 100 corrects an image qualitychange caused by long-term use has been described above. The displayapparatus 100 may be subject to slight degradation of brightness byshort-time operations as well as long-time operations.

Hereinafter, an operation 1200 of correcting an image quality changecaused by short-time use of the display apparatus 100 will be describedwith reference to FIG. 14 .

The display apparatus 100 may be turned on, in operation 1210.

The display apparatus 100 may be turned on in response to a user input.

For example, the display apparatus 100 may wait in a plug-in state inwhich a plug is inserted into an outlet. When an operation command isinput through the user inputter 130 or the remote controller 130 a inthe plug-in state, the display apparatus 100 may be turned on.

More specifically, the display apparatus 100 may supply power to theliquid crystal panel 120 and the backlight unit 110 in response to anoperation command, and display an image by operations of the liquidcrystal panel 120 and the backlight unit 110.

The display apparatus 100 may determine whether an operating timeelapsed after the display apparatus 100 is turned on is longer than orequal to a reference time for correcting image quality, in operation1220.

The controller 190 may record or measure a time elapsed after thedisplay apparatus 100 starts operating (in other words, a time when thedisplay apparatus 100 is turned on). Also, the controller 190 maycompare the recorded operating time of the display apparatus 100 to thereference time for correcting image quality.

When the display apparatus 100 determines that the operating time of thedisplay apparatus 100 is shorter than the reference time for correctingimage quality (NO in operation 1220), the display apparatus 100 mayrepeatedly compare the operating time to the reference time.

When the display apparatus 100 determines that the operating time of thedisplay apparatus 100 is longer than or equal to the reference time forcorrecting image quality (YES in operation 1220), the display apparatus100 may acquire a driving parameter, in operation 1230.

The controller 190 may acquire a driving parameter for correcting animage quality change corresponding to the operating time of the displayapparatus 100 elapsed after the display apparatus 100 is turned on, fromthe memory 192.

The driving parameter for correcting an image quality change caused byshort-time use of the display apparatus 100 may have been stored inadvance in the memory 192. The driving parameter may have been setexperimentally or empirically in advance by a designer of the displayapparatus 100 and stored in the memory 192 of the display apparatus 100.Also, the driving parameter for correcting an image quality changecaused by short-time use of the display apparatus 100 may be receivedfrom the service apparatus 200 and updated, together with a drivingparameter for correcting an image quality change caused by long-time useof the display apparatus 100.

Also, the controller 190 may predict a brightness reduction and/or colorchange of the display apparatus 100 based on the operating time of thedisplay apparatus 100 elapsed after the display apparatus 100 is turnedon, and calculate a driving parameter for correcting the predictedbrightness reduction and/or color change.

The display apparatus 100 may update a driving parameter, in operation1240.

The controller 190 may update a driving parameter that is currentlyapplied, by using the acquired driving parameter. The display apparatus100 may drive the backlight unit 110 depending on the updated drivingparameter.

The display apparatus 100 may update the reference time for correctingimage quality, in operation 1250.

The controller 190 may update the driving parameter for correcting animage quality change caused by short-time use of the display apparatus100, and then, the controller 190 may update the reference time toadditionally correct the image quality change. For example, thecontroller 190 may update the reference time to a sum of the referencetime and an additional time as a new reference time, where theadditional time may be equal to the reference time.

Thereafter, the display apparatus 100 may determine whether theoperating time of the display apparatus 100 elapsed after the displayapparatus 100 is turned on is longer than or equal to the reference timefor correcting image quality.

As such, the display apparatus 100 may correct an image quality changecaused by short-time use every predetermined time (for example, everyreference time). Therefore, the display apparatus 100 may correct animage quality change that may be caused when the display apparatus 100is in a turned-on state.

FIG. 15 shows the display apparatus, the service apparatus, and the userapparatus, according to an embodiment. FIG. 16 shows a configuration ofthe user apparatus according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 15 , the display apparatus 100 may be connected to theservice apparatus 200 and a user apparatus 300 in a wired or wirelessmanner through a network NT.

Here, the display apparatus 100 and the service apparatus 200 may be thesame as the display apparatus 100 and the service apparatus 200 shown inFIG. 1 , respectively.

The user apparatus 300 may be a computing device operated by a user ofthe display apparatus 100. For example, the user apparatus 300 may be ahandy terminal, a multimedia terminal, personal digital assistant (PDA),a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a smart watch, smart glasses, etc.

The user apparatus 300 may communicate with the display apparatus 100through the network NT or through a peer to peer (P2P) communication.

The user apparatus 300 may acquire a user input for correcting an imageof the display apparatus 100 from the user, or receive a user input forcorrecting an image of the display apparatus 100 from the displayapparatus 100. The user apparatus 300 may photograph a screen of thedisplay apparatus 100 in response to the user input, and transmit animage obtained by photographing the screen of the display apparatus 100to the service apparatus 200.

The service apparatus 200 may determine an image quality change of thedisplay apparatus 100 by receiving the image obtained by photographingthe screen of the display apparatus 100, from the user apparatus 300,and provide a parameter for correcting the image quality change to theuser apparatus 300 or the display apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 16 , the user apparatus 300 may include a communicator310 for communicating with the display apparatus 100 and the serviceapparatus 200, a camera 320 for photographing an object, a touch screen330 for interacting with a user, and a controller 340 for controllingoperations of the user apparatus 300.

The communicator 310 may include a wireless communication module 311 forcommunicating with an external apparatus in a wireless manner.

The wireless communication module 311 may transmit/receive data to/fromthe external apparatus through a mobile communication. The wirelesscommunication module 311 may use a mobile communication method, such as,for example, TDMA, CDMA, WCDMA, CDMA2000, Wibro, WiMAX, LTE, WibroEvolution, etc.

The wireless communication module 311 may transmit/receive data to/fromthe external apparatus by using a short-range wireless communication.The wireless communication module 311 may use a communication method,such as, for example, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Infrared communication,UWB communication, etc.

As such, the communicator 310 may transmit/receive data to/from thedisplay apparatus 100 and the service apparatus 200 in response to acontrol signal of the controller 340. The communicator 310 may transfercommunication data received from the external apparatus to thecontroller 340, and transmit communication data acquired from thecontroller 340 to the external apparatus.

The camera 320 may include a plurality of photodiodes for converting anoptical signal into an electrical signal. The photodiodes may bearranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. Each of thephotodiodes may receive light, and output an electrical signalrepresenting intensity of the received light.

The camera 320 may acquire an image including electrical signals outputfrom the photodiodes, and output the acquired image to the controller340. The camera 320 may include, for example, a charge-coupled device(CCD) image sensor or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)image sensor.

As such, the camera 320 may photograph a screen S of the displayapparatus 100 in response to a control signal of the controller 340, andtransfer an image obtained by photographing the screen S to thecontroller 340.

The touch screen 330 may include a touch pad 331 and a display 332.

The touch pad 331 may acquire a user input made through a user's touch.For example, the touch pad 331 may acquire a user input for correctingan image quality change or a user input for photographing a screen S ofthe display apparatus 100.

The touch pad 331 may output an electrical signal corresponding to theacquired user input to the controller 340.

The display 332 may receive image data from the controller 340, anddisplay an optical image corresponding to the image data. For example,the display 332 may display the image of the screen S photographed bythe camera 320.

The controller 340 may include a processor 341 for outputting a controlsignal for controlling operations of the user apparatus 200 in responseto a user input, and a memory 342 for memorizing and/or storing programsand data for controlling operations of the user apparatus 300.

The processor 341 may generate a control signal for controlling thecommunicator 310, the camera 320, and the touch screen 330 in responseto a user input acquired through the touch screen 330.

For example, the processor 341 may acquire a user input for compensatingfor degradation in image quality of the display apparatus 100 throughthe touch screen 330. In response to the user input, the processor 341may output a communication control signal for transmitting a messagerepresenting a user input for image correction to the display apparatus100 to the communicator 310.

Also, the processor 341 may receive a response signal of the displayapparatus 100 through the communicator 310. In response to the responsesignal, the processor 341 may output a photographing control signal forphotographing the screen S of the display apparatus 100 to the camera320.

The memory 342 may record and/or store programs and data for controllingthe communicator 310, the camera 320, and the touch screen 330.

Also, the memory 342 may temporarily store a user input acquired throughthe touch screen 330, and temporarily store an image acquired by thecamera 320.

The memory 342 may include a volatile memory, such as S-RAM and D-RAM,and a non-volatile memory, such as ROM, EPROM, and a flash memory.

As such, the controller 340 may control operations of the communicator310, the camera 320, and the touch screen 330 depending on a user inputacquired through the touch screen 330.

FIG. 17 shows an example of an operation for correcting an image qualitychange caused by long-term use of the display apparatus according to anembodiment. FIG. 18 shows an example of photographing a screen of thedisplay apparatus by using a user apparatus according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, an operation 1300 for correcting an image quality change ofthe display apparatus 100 caused by long-term use of the displayapparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18 .

The user apparatus 300 may acquire a user input for image correctionfrom a user, in operation 1310.

As a total operating time of the display apparatus 100 elapses after theuser purchases the display apparatus 100 increases, image quality of thedisplay apparatus 100 may be gradually degraded.

The user may provide a user input to alleviate degradation in imagequality of the display apparatus 100 to the user apparatus 300. Forexample, the user apparatus 100 may display a picture setting screen fora picture setting of the display apparatus 100 on the touch screen 330,and the user may provide a user input for correcting an image qualitychange caused by long-term use of the display apparatus 100 by providingthe user input to the touch screen 330.

The controller 340 of the user apparatus 300 may acquire the user inputfor image correction from the user through the touch screen 330.

The user apparatus 300 may transmit the user input for image correctionto the display apparatus 100, in operation 1320.

The controller 340 of the user apparatus 300 may control thecommunicator 310 to transmit the user input for image correction to thedisplay apparatus 100. The display apparatus 100 may receive the userinput for image correction through the communicator 170.

The display apparatus 100 may display an image 600 for image correction,in operation 1330.

By receiving the user input for image correction, the controller 190 ofthe display apparatus 100 may control the image display 150 to displaythe image 600 for image correction.

The image 600 for image correction may include a plurality of areas,that is, first to n-th areas 600-1, 600-2, 600-3, . . . , 600-n. Theplurality of areas 600-1, 600-2, 600-3, . . . , 600-n may have differentcolors, different brightness levels, and different color densities. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 18 , the first area 600-1 may display a whitecolor, the second area 600-2 may display a yellow color, and the thirdarea 600-3 may display a blue green color. Also, the n-th area 600-n maydisplay a black color.

The display apparatus 100 may transmit a response signal to the userapparatus 300, in operation 1340.

The controller 190 of the display apparatus 100 may control thecommunicator 170 to transmit a response signal indicating that the image600 for image correction has been displayed to the user apparatus 300.The user apparatus 300 may receive the response signal of the displayapparatus 100 through the communicator 310.

The user apparatus 300 may photograph a screen S of the displayapparatus 100, in operation 1350.

By receiving the response signal of the display apparatus 100, thecontroller 340 of the user apparatus 300 may control the camera 320 toacquire an image.

Also, the controller 340 may control the touch screen 330 to display theimage acquired by the camera 320. For example, as shown in FIG. 18 , thetouch screen 330 may display a photographed image 610 of the screen S ofthe display apparatus 100, acquired by the camera 320. Also, the touchscreen 330 may display a plurality of guide lines 620 for guiding alocation of the photographed image 610 of the screen S of the displayapparatus 100.

The user may adjust a location and/direction of the user apparatus 300such that the photographed image 610 of the screen S of the displayapparatus 100 is positioned within a boundary defined by the pluralityof guide lines 620.

When the user adjusts the location and/or direction of the userapparatus 300, the controller 340 may determine whether the photographedimage 610 of the screen S is positioned at a predetermined location inan image acquired by the camera 320. In other words, the controller 340may determine whether the photographed image 610 of the screen S ispositioned within the boundary of the guide lines 620.

For example, the controller 340 may detect edges of the photographedimage 610 of the screen S of the display apparatus 100 by using an edgedetection algorithm, and determine whether the detected edges arepositioned within the boundary of the guide lines 620. When the detectededges are positioned inside the guide lines 620, the controller 340 maydetermine whether partition lines partitioning the plurality of areas600-1, 600-2, 600-3, . . . , 600-n included in the image 600 for imagecorrection exist in the detected edges. When the controller 340determines that the partition lines exist in the detected edges, thecontroller 340 may determine that the photographed image 610 of thescreen S of the display apparatus 100 is positioned within the boundaryof the guide lines 620.

When the photographed image 610 representing the screen S of the displayapparatus 100 is positioned in a predetermined location, the controller340 may control the camera 320 to record an image acquired by the camera320. In other words, the controller 340 may control the camera 320 tophotograph the screen S of the display apparatus 100.

The user apparatus 300 may transmit the photographed image 610 obtainedby photographing the screen S of the display apparatus 100 to thedisplay apparatus 100, in operation 1360.

The controller 340 of the user apparatus 300 may control thecommunicator 310 to transmit the photographed image 610 of the screen Sto the display apparatus 100. The display apparatus 100 may receive thephotographed image 610 of the screen S through the communicator 170.

The display apparatus 100 may transmit a request for a parameter forimage correction of the display apparatus 100 to the service apparatus200, in operation 1370.

The controller 190 of the display apparatus 100 may control thecommunicator 170 to transmit a message for requesting an image parameterand a driving parameter for image correction of the display apparatus100 to the service apparatus 200. Also, the controller 190 may controlthe communicator 170 to transmit the photographed image 610 of thescreen S together with the message for requesting the image parameterand the driving parameter to the service apparatus 200. In addition, thedisplay apparatus 100 may selectively transmit operation information andenvironment information of the display apparatus 100 together with thephotographed image 610 of the screen S to the service apparatus 200.

The communication interface 210 of the service apparatus 200 may receivethe message for requesting the image parameter and the driving parameterand the photographed image 610 of the screen S from the displayapparatus 100.

The service apparatus 200 may acquire a parameter for image correctionof the display apparatus 100, in operation 1380.

The processor 240 of the service apparatus 200 may process thephotographed image 610 of the screen S of the display apparatus 100, inresponse to the message for requesting the image parameter and thedriving parameter, received from the display apparatus 100.

For example, the information inputter 220 may acquire the photographedimage 610 of the screen S through the communication interface 210. Theinformation inputter 220 may extract information about a color, abrightness level, and a color density at a predetermined location fromthe photographed image 610 of the screen S. The information inputter 220may extract information about a color, a brightness level, and a colordensity of each of the plurality of areas 610-1, 610-2, 610-3, . . . ,610-n included in the photographed image 610 of the screen S. The color,the brightness level, and the color density of each of the plurality ofareas 610-1, 610-2, 610-3, . . . , 610-n included in the photographedimage 610 of the screen S may be substantially the same as a color, abrightness level, and a color density of the corresponding one of theplurality of areas 600-1, 600-2, 600-3, . . . , 600-n of the image 600for image correction displayed on the display apparatus 100. Theinformation inputter 220 may transfer the extracted information aboutthe color, brightness level, and color density to the processor 240.

The processor 240 may provide the information about the color,brightness level, and color density to the database 230 to search forinformation about a brightness reduction and/or color change of thedisplay apparatus 100. The database 230 may include information about abrightness reduction and/or a color change of the display apparatus 100corresponding to the color, brightness level, and color density of theimage 600 for image correction that is displayed on the displayapparatus 100. The processor 240 may acquire the information about thebrightness reduction and/or color change of the display apparatus 100from the database 230.

The processor 240 may use the information about the brightness reductionand/or color change of the display apparatus 100 to search the database230 to obtain an image parameter and a driving parameter correspondingto the brightness reduction and/or color change of the display apparatus100. The database 230 may include image parameters and drivingparameters for correcting various brightness reductions and variouscolor changes of display apparatuses. The processor 240 may acquire theimage parameter and the driving parameter for correcting the brightnessreduction and/or color change of the display apparatus 100 from thedatabase 230.

The parameter outputter 250 may receive the image parameter and thedriving parameter for the display apparatus 100 from the processor 240,and generate update data for updating an image parameter and a drivingparameter of the display apparatus 100.

The service apparatus 200 may transmit the update data of the displayapparatus 100 to the display apparatus 100, in operation 1390.

The communication interface 210 of the service apparatus 200 maytransmit the update data for updating the image parameter and thedriving parameter to the display apparatus 100.

The display apparatus 100 may update the image parameter and the drivingparameter, in operation 1395.

The controller 190 may update the image parameter and the drivingparameter by using the update data received from the service apparatus200. The controller 190 may extract an image parameter and a drivingparameter from the update data, and store the extracted image parameterand the driving parameter in the memory 192.

As such, the display apparatus 100 may correct an image quality changein response to a user input received through the user apparatus 300.However, conditions that are used by the display apparatus 100 tocorrect an image quality change is not limited thereto. For example, thedisplay apparatus 100 may acquire a user input through the user inputter130 or the remote controller 130 a, and correct an image quality changein response to the user input.

FIG. 19 shows another example of an operation for correcting an imagequality change caused by long-term use of the display apparatusaccording to an embodiment. FIG. 20 shows another example ofphotographing a screen of the display apparatus by using a userapparatus according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, an operation 1400 for correcting an image quality change ofthe display apparatus 100, caused by long-term use of the displayapparatus 100, will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20 .

The user apparatus 300 may acquire a user input for image correctionfrom a user, in operation 1410. The user apparatus 300 may transmit theuser input for image correction to the display apparatus 100, inoperation 1420. The display apparatus 100 may display an image for imagecorrection, in operation 1430. Then, the display apparatus 100 maytransmit a response signal to the user apparatus 300, in operation 1440.

Operations 1410, 1420, 1430, and 1440 may be the same as operations1310, 1320, 1330, and 1340 shown in FIG. 17 , respectively. The displayapparatus 100 may display an image 700 for image correction including aplurality of areas 700-1, 700-2, 700-3, . . . , 700-n, wherein theplurality of areas 700-1, 700-2, 700-3, . . . , 700-n may have differentbrightness levels and different color densities.

The user apparatus 300 may photograph a screen S of the displayapparatus 100, in operation 1450.

By receiving the response signal from the display apparatus 100, thecontroller 340 of the user apparatus 300 may control the camera 320 toacquire an image. When the image 700 displayed on the screen S of thedisplay apparatus 100 is positioned within a boundary of a plurality ofguide lines 720, the controller 340 may control the camera 320 to recordan image acquired by the camera 320. In other words, the controller 340may control the camera 320 to photograph the screen S of the displayapparatus 100.

The controller 340 may analyze a photographed image 710 obtained byphotographing the screen S. The controller 340 may extract informationabout colors, brightness levels, color densities of predeterminedlocations P1, P2, P3, . . . , Pn in the photographed image 710 of thescreen S, as shown in FIG. 20 . The controller 340 may extractinformation about a color, a brightness level, and a color density ofeach of the areas 710-1, 710-2, 710-3, . . . , 710-n included in thephotographed image 710 of the screen S.

The user apparatus 300 may transmit a request for a parameter for imagecorrection of the display apparatus 100 to the service apparatus 200, inoperation 1460.

The controller 340 of the user apparatus 300 may control thecommunicator 310 to transmit a message for requesting an image parameterand a driving parameter for image correction of the display apparatus100 to the service apparatus 200. Also, the controller 340 may controlthe communicator 310 to transmit the information about the colors,brightness levels, and color densities of the photographed image 710 ofthe screen S, together with the message for requesting the imageparameter and the driving parameter.

The communication interface 210 of the service apparatus 200 may receivethe message for requesting the image parameter and the driving parameterand the information about the colors, brightness levels, and colordensities of the photographed image 710 of the screen S from the userapparatus 300.

The service apparatus 200 may acquire a parameter for image correctionof the display apparatus 100, in operation 1470.

The processor 240 may use the information about the colors, brightnesslevels, and color densities of the photographed image 710 of the screenS to search the database 230 to obtain an image parameter and a drivingparameter for correcting a brightness reduction and/or color change ofthe display apparatus 100. The processor 240 may acquire the imageparameter and the driving parameter for correcting the brightnessreduction and/or color change of the display apparatus 100 from thedatabase 230.

The parameter outputter 250 may generate update data for updating animage parameter and a driving parameter of the display apparatus 100.

The service apparatus 200 may transmit the update data of the displayapparatus 100 to the user apparatus 300, in operation 1480, and the userapparatus 300 may transmit the update data of the display apparatus 100to the display apparatus 100, in operation 1490.

The display apparatus 100 may update the image parameter and the drivingparameter, in operation 1495.

The operation 1495 may be the same as the operation 1395 shown in FIG.17 .

As described above, the user apparatus 300 may photograph apredetermined image displayed on the display apparatus 100, and theservice apparatus 200 may generate a parameter for correcting an imagequality change of the display apparatus 100 based on the photographedimage. Therefore, the display apparatus 100 may provide an optimal imagequality to the user.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, there may be provided thedisplay apparatus capable of correcting an image quality change causedby long-time use.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, there may be provided thedisplay apparatus capable of correcting both a change of an image causedby long-time use and a change of an image caused by short-time use.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, there may be provided thedisplay apparatus capable of measuring a change of a displayed image,and correcting the change of the image based on the measured change ofthe image.

Embodiments of the disclosure have been described above. In theembodiments described above, some components may be implemented as a“module.” Here, the term “module” may mean, but is not limited to, asoftware and/or hardware component, such as a Field Programmable GateArray (FPGA) or Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), whichmay perform certain tasks. A module may advantageously be configured toreside on the addressable storage medium and may be configured to beexecuted on one or more processors.

Thus, a module may include, by way of example, components, such assoftware components, object-oriented software components, classcomponents and task components, processes, functions, attributes,procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware,microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays,and variables. The operations provided for in the components and modulesmay be combined into fewer components and modules or further separatedinto additional components and modules. In addition, the components andmodules may be implemented such that they execute one or more CPUs in adevice.

In addition to the embodiments described above, embodiments may beimplemented through computer readable code/instructions in/on a medium,e.g., a computer readable medium, to control at least one processingelement to implement any of the embodiments described above. The mediummay correspond to any medium/media permitting the storing and/ortransmission of the computer readable code.

The computer-readable code may be recorded on a medium or transmittedthrough the Internet. The medium may include Read Only Memory (ROM),Random Access Memory (RAM), Compact Disk-Read Only Memories (CD-ROMs),magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical recording medium. Also, themedium may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The media mayalso be a distributed network, so that the computer readable code may bestored or transferred and executed in a distributed fashion. Stillfurther, as an example, the processing element may include at least oneprocessor or at least one computer processor, and processing elementsmay be distributed and/or included in a single device.

While embodiments have been described in a limited manner, those skilledin the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate thatother embodiments may be derived without departing from the scope of thedisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile device comprising: a sensor; acommunicator; and a processor configured to: control the communicator totransmit, to an external display apparatus, a first communication signalfor displaying predetermined images, the predetermined images includingat least one from among first images with different colors, secondimages with different brightness levels, or third images with differentcolor densities, control the sensor to capture images displayed on theexternal display apparatus, and control the communicator to transmit asecond communication signal for requesting an image correction at theexternal display apparatus, the image correction being based on thecaptured images.
 2. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising atouch screen, wherein the processor is further configured to control thecommunicator to transmit the first communication signal, based onreceiving a user input signal from the touch screen.
 3. The mobiledevice of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured tocontrol the communicator to transmit the second communication signal toa server such that the server transmits data for the image correction atthe external display apparatus to the external display apparatus.
 4. Themobile device of claim 3, wherein an image parameter of the externaldisplay apparatus is updated based on the data for the image correction.5. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the image parameter comprisesat least one from among a brightness level, a contrast, a sharpnesslevel, and a color density of the external display apparatus.
 6. Themobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured tocontrol the communicator to transmit the second communication signalincluding information regarding the captured images.
 7. The mobiledevice of claim 6, wherein the information regarding the captured imagescomprises at least one from among a color, a brightness level, and acolor density of the captured images.
 8. The mobile device of claim 1,wherein the processor is further configured to receive, from theexternal display apparatus, a response signal responding to a user inputfor requesting the image correction and control the sensor to capturethe predetermined images based on the response signal being receivedfrom the external display apparatus.
 9. A display apparatus comprising:a display; a communicator; and a processor configured to: receive afirst communication signal for an image correction from a mobile device,control the display to display predetermined images based on receivingthe first communication signal, the predetermined images including atleast one from among first images with different colors, second imageswith different brightness levels, or third images with different colordensities, receive a second communication signal including data for theimage correction from the mobile device, perform an image correctionbased on the data for the image correction, the data being based onimages captured by the mobile device, and control the display to displayan image corrected based on the data for the image correction.
 10. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: based on receiving the data for the image correction,update an image parameter based on the data for the image correction.11. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the image parametercomprises at least one from among a brightness level, a contrast, asharpness level, and a color density of the display apparatus.
 12. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a user inputterconfigured to acquire a user input; wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to transmit, to a mobile device, a response signal respondingto the user input for requesting the image correction so that the mobiledevice captures the predetermined images based on the response signalbeing received by the mobile device.